'It's like a R-rated movie marathon': Bengaluru CID investigators show unease with series of VIP sex scandals

In Bengaluru, CID detectives who typically handle intricate crimes and scams now find themselves overwhelmed with investigations into a series of high-profile sex scandals. These cases have thrust them into a challenging and uncomfortable environment, requiring them to review explicit material and endure taxing depositions, a TOI report by H M Chaithanya Swamy stated.

The CID is currently probing three major cases: the 'pen drive' scandal involving former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, a POCSO case against former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, and a sexual abuse allegation against sitting MLC Suraj Revanna. The continual barrage of explicit content and the sensitive nature of these investigations have left CID officers feeling fatigued and frustrated.

"It is sickening.. we are tired," several CID officers remarked when discussing the emotional toll of these investigations. The spotlight on CID escalated with the government's order to probe the Prajwal Revanna scandal, involving allegations of rape connected to circulated sex clips and photos found on pen drives in Hassan. CID officers are tasked with two primary objectives: confirming if the man in the sex videos is Prajwal and corroborating the evidence with survivors' statements.

Adding to the complexity, the government deployed more female officers to interrogate Prajwal upon his return from Europe. Despite their training in handling diverse cases, CID officers have found this investigation uniquely challenging due to the explicit nature of the evidence.

"It was like we were on an R-rated movie marathon," an officer admitted, noting the discomfort in discussing explicit findings with superiors and the general unease in handling such material among peers and family. The process included showing videos and photos to survivors while recording their statements, a challenging experience for both officers and survivors. Some officers have even approached their superiors, expressing difficulty in continuing with their assignments.

As the Prajwal investigation progressed, the Yediyurappa case emerged. The former Chief Minister is accused of sexually abusing a minor girl who visited him with her mother seeking assistance. This case has put significant political pressure on the officers, adding to their already substantial stress levels.

Next, an investigation into MLC Suraj Revanna surfaced, involving accusations of sexually assaulting a male JDS worker. Currently, this case involves reviewing audio conversations and WhatsApp chats. The CID is prepared for potential further developments that could complicate their investigation even more.

“Now the case against MLC Suraj Revanna, who is charged with sexually assaulting a male JDS worker, has been referred to us. As of now, the case is confined to audio conversations and WhatsApp chats. We are not sure what more will tumble out of the cupboard in the coming days. The fatigue factor is already kicking in,” remarked a CID inspector. The inspector added, “Thank God, the Darshan-related drama did not come to us, or else we would have been dissecting personal relationships.”

Despite these high-profile sex scandal probes, the CID is also handling significant non-sex-related criminal investigations, such as the multi-crore Valmiki Corporation scam. This mix of cases has brought the department into unexpected limelight, with their work being discussed even at the gram panchayat level.

“Everyone had forgotten our existence, but now people at the gram panchayat level discuss our investigations over chai,” commented a senior officer.

The surge in public attention and the intricate nature of the ongoing investigations have put considerable strain on CID detectives who are grappling with the complexities of these emotionally taxing cases.